Method and arrangement for reproducing an image



May 25,1965 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,185,086

METHOD ARRANGEMENT FOR REPRODUCING AN IMAGE Filed June 28, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet l May 25, 1965 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,185,086

METHOD AND RRANGEMENT FOR REPRODUCING AN IMAGE Filed June 28. 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 @I f f I fm? I I 27 n 'l x x w12" Fig. 6

w 211 m v /ma W for www di @ad m4/44 b2" zkdfffffe# AMM? llnited StatesPatent Otihce iti Patented May 25, i955 7 Ciaims. (Cl. itil-149.4)

The present invention relates to a method and arrangement forreproducing an image, particularly suitable for producing hectographicmasters from an original image such as a pattern, photograph or printedsheet.

The present application is a continuation-impart of our copendingapplication Serial No. 113,986 filed on or about May l5, 1961 andentitled Image Reproducing Arrangement and Method.

It has been proposed to produce transferable images on hectographicmaster sheets by applying infrared heat to the image-forming portions ofan hectographic ink sheet so as to melt these portions of thehectographic ink layer and to transfer the molten portions from the inksheet to an intermediate sheet or master blank interposed between theoriginal image and the ink sheet.

However, to proceed in this manner requires the heating of'tlie imageforming portion of the hectographic ink layer to above the melting pointof the same since the molten portions of the hectographic ink layer areexpected to adhere to corresponding portions of the master blank, thusforming a hectographic ink pattern corresponding to the image on themaster blank. Hectographic masters produced in this manner will giveonly blurred copies with very poor detintiion and lack of sharpness.This is due to the fact that it apparently is impossible in this mannerto limit the melting and the transfer of the hectographic ink layerexactly to the portions corresponding to the image which is to bereproduced. It seems to be unavoidable that adjacent portions of the inklayer which do not correspond to the desired image which is to bereproduced, will also be transferred from the hectograpliic ink sheet tothe master and this in turn will result in blurring of copies made froma thus produced master.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to overcomethe above discussed difiiculties and disadvantages.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method andarrangement for reproducing an image which method and arrangement willpermit the transfer of portions of a layer of coloring material onto amaster or copy sheet in such a manner that the thus-transferred portionof coloring material will correspond exactly to the image which is to bereproduced.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method andarrangement for reproducing an image, particularly for the purpose offorming a hectographic master sheet, which will result in an exactreproduction of the image on the hectographic master sheet and willallow the production of sharp copies therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a further reading of the description and of the appendedclaims.

With the above other objects in View, the present invention includes amethod of reproducing an image, comprising the steps of forming amulti-layer structure including in the indicated sequence sheet meansdefining an image comprising image forming and image free portions, alayer including a first d ve component and a layer including a seconddye component adapted at a predetermined elevated temperature to reactwith said rst dye component under formation of a dye, the image formingportions of the sheet means having a greater specific heat transfercapacity than the image free portions thereof so that upon exposure ofthe sheet means to predetermined infrared radiation portions of thefirst and second dye components corresponding to the image formingportion will be heated to the predetermined elevated temperature andthus react under formation of the dye While portions 'of the 4layers ofdye components corresponding to the image free portions will remainbelow the predetermined elevated temperature, and exposing themulti-layer structure to the predetermined infrared radiation so as toheat and react the portions of the first and second dye componentscorresponding to the image forming portions, whereby the dye will beformed of the reacted first and second dye component portionscorresponding to the image forming portions of the sheet means.

The present invention also contemplates for use in an image reproducingarrangement, a composite sheet comprising, in combination, a backingsheet, a second layer of a material selected from the group consistingof gelatin, polyglycol, polyvinyl alcohol, low melting alkyd resin.polyacrylate and wax having a second dye component distributedtherethrough, and a first layer of a material selected from the groupconsisting of gelatin, polyglycol,

polyvinyl alcohol, 10W melting alkyd resin, polyacrylate and Wax andhaving distributed therethrough a first dye component adapted to reactat a predetermined elevated temperature with 4the second dye componentso as to form a transferable dye, the second layer being soluble in asolvent in which the first layer is substantially insoluble, and thesecond layer being interposed between and adhering to the backing sheetand the first layer.

It has now been found that hcctographic master sheets of great sharpnesscan be produced with an arrangement and by a method according to whichthe master sheet is formed with a layer of a rst dye component on whicha layer of a second dye component is superposed, whereby the rst andsecond dye components are so chosen that they will react with each otherat a predetermined elevated temperature under formation of atransferable dye, i.e. a dye suitable for hectographic copying. Thelayer of .the second dye component may adhere to the backing sheet withinterposition of the layer of rst dye component, or the layer of seconddye component may just be placed in contact with the layer of first dyecomponent, without adhering thereto.

Upon exposure of certain portions of the superposed layers of dyecomponents to a predetermined elevated temperature, as will be describedin detail below, the two dye components of these portions will reactwith each other under formation of the transferable dye.

Broadly, the present invention is not limited to specific dyes and dyecomponents for formation of such dyes, but preferably dyes will beproduced by subjecting portions of the superposed dye component layerscorresponding to the image forming portions of the image which is to bereproduced to a sufficiently high temperature to cause reaction betweenthe dye components and thereby formation of the dye.

The hectographic master, for instance, may be formed of a backing sheetcovered on one face with a layer containing the leuco compound of a:triaryl methane dye, which layer in turn is covered with or contactedwith a layer containing a suitable organic or inorganic oxidizing agent,for instance tetrachloroquinone or ceriuin (IV) sulfate.

According -to another embodiment, the layer on the prospective mastersheet will contain the components of an indophenol or indamine, and thesecond layer will contain an organic or inorganic oxidizing agent suchas quinone or copper (ll) chloride.

The first and second dye components preferably are incorporated inlayers of a substance such as gelatin, polyglycol, polyvinyl alcohol,low melting alkyd resin, poiyacrylate or wax.

Preferably the layer containing the iirst dye component as well as thelayer containing the second dye component will adhereto the backing ofthe master sheet, however, it is also possible to have only the layercontaining the first dye component integral with the master sheet, whilethe layer containing the second dye component is formed on a separatebacking sheet and placed in contact with the layer containing the firstdye component.

The last mentioned arrangement, according to which the layer containingthe second dye component, usually the oxidizin Y agent, is formed on aseparate backing sheet, also has certain advantages, such as thepossibility of re-using the second layer provided that after the nevioususe sufficient unreacted oxidizing agent remains there- The backingsheets of the hectographic master and of the layer containing the seconddye component (assuming that a separate backing sheet is used for thesecond dye component) preferably wiil be formed of a materiai which willnot absorb infrared radiation or will absorb such radiation only to arelatively small degree. Thus, for instance, :the backing sheet of themaster may consist of cellulose acetate and the backing sheet for thesecond dye component of cellulose nitrate or a pergamyn-type parchment.The invention, however, is not to be considered limited to any specificmaterial for forming the backing sheet.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGS. 1-8 illustrate arrangements and methods for reproducing an imageby heating superposed first and second dye components corresponding tothe image forming portions, to a temperature suciently high to causereaction between the first and second dye components resulting information of the dye, more particularly,

FIGS. l and 2 illustrate a method and arrangement wherein the layerscontaining the first and second dye component are adhered to a singlebacking sheet and are reacted by reflex exposure to infrared radiation',

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an arrangement which differs from the one ofFIGS. 1 and 2 by providing a separate backing sheet for the layercontaining the second dye component;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an arrangement wherein the image which is to bereproduced appears on one face of the master backing sheet, and thelayers containing the first and second dye components are arranged onthe other face of the Same backing sheet; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an arrangement which differs from the one ofFIGS. 5 and 6 by having the layer containing the second dye componentformed on a separate backing sheet, and also by having the originalimage which is to be transferred to the master located on a separatebacking sheet.

Referring now particularly, to FIGS. 1 8, reference numeral 21 denotesthe backing sheet of the hectographic master sheet which is to beformed, the layer containing the first dye component, for instance, theleuco compound, is indicated by reference numeral 22. In such caseswhere the layer 24 containing the second dye cornponent, such as theoxidizing agent, is formed on a separate backing sheet, such separatebacking sheet is indicated by reference numeral 23. The original imagewhich is to be copied may oe on a separate backing sheet 25,

Example I A gelatin-pol 'glycol emulsion (2:1) containing 30% leucomalachite green is applied with a thickness of layer 0.015 mm. to oneface of a cellulose acetate foil with a thickness of 036 mm. and driedso as to form a layer thereon.

On a pergamyn-type ariiicial parchment paper, i.e., e grease proof,imitation parchment paper, made from sulde pulp by beating untilgeiatinons, of'SO gjm.2 a layer is formed consisting of a softenercontaining polymethacrylic acid ester having tetrachloroquinonedistributed therethrough. The two sheets are superposed with the twolayers contacting each other. Infrared exposure is carried out byreiiex, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for a period of about 15 seconds. Theportions of the layers corresponding to image forming portions 2e willbe heated sufficiently to cause oxidation of the leuco malachite greento malachite green, while the portions of the layers corresponding tothe image free portions will not react. After separation of thecomposite sheets as iilustrated in FIG. 4, the hectographic master sheetincluding the backing sheet 21 and malachite green portions 27 may becopied on a conventional alcohol duplicator.

Example Il The process is carried out as described in Example I,however, the leuco base of malachite green is replaced by the leuco baseof crystal violet, and cerium (IV) sulfate is used as the oxidizingagent in place of tetrachloroquinone.

Example Ill A leuco malachite green-containing emulsion of polyglycol isapplied to one face of an acetate foil with a thickness of 0.06 rnm. anddried so as to form a layer thereon. A solution of polymethacrylic acidester and 2,4-dichlorobenzoylperoxide in isobutanol is applied with athickness of 0.91 mm. to the free face of the previously formed layerand dried so as to form a layer containing the second (oxidizing) dyecomponent.

The original image including image forming portions 26 is superposedupon the second layer 24 and exposed by reiiex to infrared radiation asillustrated in FIG. l.

Upon separation of the sheets, a hectographic master sheet is obtainedcontaining transferable image portions 27 of malachite green, asillustrated in FIG. 2.

Example IV The process described in Example I is carried out with anintimate mixture of dimethyl-p-phenylcne diamine and m-toluylene diamineas the first dye component and benzoquinone as the second dye component.By infrared radiation, a master sheet is formed which contains thetransferable dye toluylene blue as a mirror image of the original imageforming portions 25.

It wiil be understood th .t each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofimage reproducing arrangements ditiering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in anarrangement for producing hectographic master sheets, it is not int "dedto be limited to the details shown, since various me... ions andstructural changes may be made without departing in any way from thespirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to beconiprehended Within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of forming a transferable reproduction of an image,comprising the steps of forming a multilayer structure including in theindicated sequence sheet means defining an image comprising imageforming and image free portions, a layer including a rst dye component,a layer including a second dye component adapted at a predeterminedelevated temperature to react with said rst dye component to form atransferable, alcohol soluble, colored dye, and a backing sheet, atleast the layer including said first dye component adheringT to saidbacking sheet, said image forming portions of said sheet means having agreater specic heat transfer capacity than said image free portionsthereof so that upon exposure of said sheet means to predeterminedinfrared radiation portions of said first and second dye componentscorresponding to said image forming portions will be heated to saidpredetermined elevated temperature and thus react so as to form saidtransferable, alcohol soluble dye while portions of said layers of dyecomponents corresponding to said image free portions will remain belowsaid predetermined elevated ternperature; exposing said multilayerstructure to said predetermined infrared radiation so as to heat andreact the portions of said first and second dye components correspondingto said image forming portions, whereby a hectographic master sheet willbe produced consisting of said backing sheet with said transferable,alcohol soluble dye formed thereon of said reacted first and second dyecomponent portions corresponding to the image forming portions of saidsheet means; separating said hectographic master sheet consisting ofsaid backing sheet with said transferable alcohol soluble dye thereon;and making duplicate copies from said thus obtained hectographic mastersheet by an alcohol duplicating method.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein one of said dye componentsconsists essentially of an oxidizing agent, and the other of said dyecomponents of a substance adapted to be oxidized by said oxidizingagent.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said oxidizing agent isselected from the group consisting of tetrachloroquinone, quinone andcerium (1V) sulfate, and wherein said substance is selected from thegroup consisting of leuco compounds of a triaryl methane dye,indophenols and indamines.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said backing sheet is formed ofa material having a relatively low capacity for absorbing infraredradiation.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said material is celluloseacetate.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said multilayer structure isexposed to direct predetermined infrared radiation.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said multilayer structure isexposed to reflex predetermined infrared radiation.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,755,200 7/56Balen et al 101-426 2,755,203 7/56 Stallman 101-426 2,929,736 3/ 60Miller et al 117-369 X 2,939,009 5/60 Tien lOl-149.4 X 2,967,785 l/61Allen et al 117-369 WlLLIAM B. PENN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. LEIGHEY, ROBERT E, PULFREY,

Examiners.

1. A METHOD OF FORMING A TRANSFERABLE REPRODUCTION OF AN IMAGE,COMPRISING THE STEPS OF FORMING A MULTILAYER STRUCTURE INCLUDING IN THEINDICATED SEQUENCE SHEET MEANS DEFINING AN IMAGE COMPRISING IMAGEFORMING AND IMAGE FREE PORTIONS, A LAYER INCLUDING A FIRST DYECOMPONENT, A LAYER INCLUDING A SECOND DYE COMPONENT ADAPTED AT APREDETERMINED ELEVATED TEMPERATURE TO REACT WITH SAID FIRST DYECOMPONENT TO FORM A TRANSFERABLE, ALCOHOL SOLUBLE, COLORED DYE, AND ABACKING SHEET, AT LEAST THE LAYER INCLUDING SAID FIRST DYE COMPONENTADHERING TO SAID BACKING SHEET, SAID IMAGE FORMING PORTIONS OF SAIDSHEET MEANS HAVING A GREATER SPECIFIC HEAT TRANSFER CAPACITY THAN SAIDIMAGE FREE PORTIONS THEREOF SO THAT UPON EXPOSURE OF SAID SHEET MEANS TOPREDETERMINED INFRARED RADIATION PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND DYECOMPONENTS CORRESPONDING TO SAID IMAGE FORMING PORTIONS WILL BE HEATEDTO SAID PREDETERMINED ELEVATED TEMPERATURE AND THUS REACT SO AS TO FORMSAID TRANSFERABLE, ALCOHOL SOLUBLE DYE WHILE PORTIONS OF SAID LAYERS OFDYE COMPONENTS CORRESPONDING TO SAID IMAGE FREE PORTIONS WILL REMAINBELOW SAID PREDETERMINED ELEVATED TEMPERATURE; EXPOSING SAID MULTILAYERSTRUCTURE TO SAID PREDETERMINED INFRARED RADIATION SO AS TO HEAT ANDREACT THE PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND DYE COMPONENTS CORRESPONDINGTO SAID IMAGE FORMING PORTIONS, WHEREBY A HECTOGRAPHIC MASTER SHEET WILLBE PRODUCED CONSISTING OF SAID BACKING SHEET WITH SAID TRANSFERABLE,ALCOHOL SOLUBLE DYE FORMED THEREON OF SAID REACTED FIRST AND SECOND DYECOMPONENT PORTIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE IMAGE FORMING PORTIONS OF SAIDSHEET MEANS; SEPARATING SAID HECTOGRAPHIC MASTER SHEET CONSISTING OFSAID BACKING SHEET WITH SAID TRANSFERABLE ALCOHOL SOLUBLE DYE THEREON;AND MAKING DUPLICATE COPIES FROM SAID THUS OBTAINED HECTOGRAPHIC MASTERSHEET BY AN ALCOHOL DUPLICATING METHOD.